Compoundable unit display window for the display of articles in general

ABSTRACT

A compoundable unit display window for the display of articles in general comprising a supporting structure consisting essentially of a substantially parallelopiped framework, defining a base element and an upper cover element, joined together and stiffened by a plurality of uprights. The base element and the cover element consist of frames which support sections defining guides and counterguides for the sliding engagement of glass panels and the like. The stiffening uprights consist of sections defining guides co-operating with the guides of the sections of the base and cover elements to form seats for receiving panels of glass and the like.

United States Patent 1191 Marengoni Oct. .14, 1975 [54] COMPOUNDABLEUNIT DISPLAY 3,182,846 5/1965 Kaff 220/84 WINDOW FOR THE E F 332233111/1323 33 iifi nsen..... ARTICLES IN GENE 3,477,182 11/1969 Fulton312/140 [76] Inventor; Claudio Marengoni, via Italia 7, 3,509,673 5/1970Witkosky et a1 52/242 Brescia, Italy, 25100 1 PrimaryExaminer-William 1. Price [22] Filed 1972 Assistant ExaminerAllan N.Shoap [21] Appl. No.: 306,110 Attorney, Agent, or FirmGuid0 Modiano;Albert Josif N F(l);e1lg9n;\p l)lul:at10n Priority Data 397/71 ABSTRACTt 0V a y A compoundable unit display wmdow for the dlsplay 52 us. c1220/84; 52/288; 220/4 R; 98 in mmprising SPPPMfiHg 312 ll 312 /257 SKconslsting essentially of a substantially paralleloplped 51 Int. (:1. BD7 42; F16B 12/00 framework fiV a base and PPer [58] Field of Search220/84, 4 R, 4 F, 80, 4 N; Y l f mgethfr and Stlffened by a 30/140, 108257 SK; 52/242, 288 656, rahty 0 u ng ts. e base e ement and the coverele- 657 658 ment consist of frames which support sectlons definingguides and counterguides for the sliding engagement [561 Refermesciediin s i f o'ill fioil d ii11121113;i ifil lii ffi s e 0- ng W1 UNITEDSTATES PATENTS the guides of the sections of the base and cover ele-959,939 5/ 1910 Hunter 312/ 140 ments to f Seats f receiving panels fglass and 2,765,886 10/1956 Tedaldi et a1.. 312/140 the like. 2,956,70510/196O Clingman 220/ 3,108,393 10/1963 Baker 206/D1G. 18 2 Claims, 8Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 Sheet 1 of 3 3,912,111

COMPOUNDABLE UNIT DISPLAY WINDOW FOR THE DISPLAY OF ARTICLES IN GENERALBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to acompoundable unit display window for the display of articles in general.

Shelving with sliding glass panels has been advantageously used for sometime for the display of articles in general and particularly articles ofsmall size, and constitutes an important element in the furnishing ofshops or multiple stores, and such elements are also frequently used fordividing a room into a number of zones for the display and sale ofdifferent articles. These shelving elements, more correctly known asdisplay windows, generally comprise a supporting structure formed from aplurality of metal sections configured and shaped so that they can berigidly connected together and receive both the fixed and sliding glasspanels. Although widely used and also advantageus from various points ofview, these supporting structures are not free from disadvantages andthese substantially limit the current use of said display windows. Amongthese disadvantages, the most important are the requirement of a largeamount of effort in assembling the various elements constituting thestructure and resulting in high labour costs, the relatively largenumber of component parts with their relative storage and transportproblems and a not always satisfactory stability of the display windowas obtained from said supporting structures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to provide acompoundable unit display window for displaying articles in general,which has structural and functional characteristics such as toadvantageously overcome the stated disadvantages, i.e. a display Windowwhose supporting structure is otained from a limited number of componentparts, which are rapidly and easily connected together with highstability even after prolonged periods of use, and without requiring theuse of devices of delicate or difficult construction or the use ofspecial structural arrangements which could in some way complicate thesetting up of the display windows or require the assistance ofspecialised personnel Another object of this invention is to provide adisplay window of the aforementioned type, whose structuralcharacteristics give it a considerable flexibility of application; i.e.they are such that it may be easily adapted to the room in which it willbe used, with the rapid and satisfactory solution of contingentarrangement problems which would vary from case to case.

Another object of this invention is to provide a display window fordisplaying articles in general which, based on a limited number ofcomponent parts, enables a large range of dimension and formcompositions to be obtained.

Another object of this invention is to provide a display window fordisplaying articles in general, whose structure is easily obtainedstarting from materials normally available commercially, and bymachining operations of known type, so as to be advantageous also from astrictly economical point of view.

According to the invention there is provided a display window forarticles in general, comprising a supporting structure consistingessentially of a substantially parallelopiped framework, defining a baseelement and an upper cover element, joined together and stiffened by aplurality of uprights, and in which said base element and said coverelement consist of frames which support sections defining guides andcounterguides for the sliding engagement of glass panels and the like,said uprights consisting of sections defining guides co-operating withsaid guides of said sections of the base and cover elements to formseats for receiving panels of glass and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further characteristics and advantageswill be more evident from the detailed description of a display windowaccording to the invention, illustrated by way of example in theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a display window accordingto the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 2a are a section along the line II-II and the line Ilalla ofFIG. 1, to an enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is a section along the line IIIIII of FIG. 1 to an enlargedscale;

FIG. 4 is a section along the line [VIV of FIG. 1 to an enlarged scale;

FIG. 5 is a section along the line VV of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a section along the line VIVI of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a cross-section to an enlarged scale of a section element ofthe display window according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to said figures,the display window for articles in general according to the presentinvention is exemplified in the version accessible from one side only.This displaywindow, which is indicated overall by the reference numeral1, consists of a supporting structure defining a base element or bottom2, and a cover element 3, which are joined together and strengthed byfront uprights 4 and rear uprights 5. Said base element or bottom 2consists (FIG. 2) of a tubular frame 6, of essentially rectangularconfiguration and having dimensions practically corresponding to thetransverse and longitudinal dimensions of the display window which is tobe obtained; the arcuate sections 7 and 8 are connected, for example byscrew means 16, external to the longer sides of said frame 6.

The cross-section of the front section 7 comprises lowerly a curved part7a shaped as a quarter of a circumference, from the summit orsubstantially horizontal end portion 7b of which there extends avertical part or wall 9, which continues upperly as a normallyhorizontal part 10 extending over said tubular frame 6. This part 10,which is essentially box or channel like, comprises lowerly a bentflange 11, which co-operates with said vertical part 9 and theunderlying curved part 7a to define a seat or recess for receiving theside of the tubular frame 6. Above the part 10 there are projections 12and 13 which extend longitudinally over the entire length of the sectionunder description, and which, as will be described hereinafter,constitute guides for the sliding panels 120 of the display windowaccording to the invention. The cross-section of the rear section 8comprises, like the preceding section, a lower curved part 8a in theform of a quarter of a circumference, whereas upperly it defines a part110, extending from the vertical part 9 horizontally over the tubularframe 6. This part upperly defines a guide 111 in which a panel 112a isarrangeed, whereas lowerly it is provided with fins 113 which rest onthe upper side of the tubular frame 6. At the upper and lower ends ofthe vertical part 9, the sections 7 and 8 comprise projections 14 and 15which with the external face of said vertical parts 9 define sheath-likeseats for receiving strips 15a of plastic laminate or wood which hidefrom view the heads of the screws 16 used for clamping the sections 7and 8 on the longer sides of the tubular frame 6. Similar projectionsare provided at the substantially vertical and horizontal end portionsof the curved parts 7a and 8a. These projections, indicated by thereference numerals l7 and 18, define with the visible surface of saidcurved parts 7a and 8a sheath-like seats for removably receiving stripsof a plastic laminate or wood or the like. The part 10 of the frontsection 7 is also provided at the end facing inwards with a fin 19which, in co-operation with the corresponding fin 119 provided on therear section 8, supports a layer 20 of hardboard for example, whichforms the bottom shelf of the display window, so concealing from viewthe presence of said stiffening frame 6. External to the shorter sidesof said frame 6 there are connected lateral box sections 21 (FIG. 2a)which upperly define, in an eccentric position, a seat 22 for receivingand supporting panels of glass and the like.

The cover element 3 (FIG. 3) consists, as in the case of the baseelement or bottom 2 previously described, of a tubular frame 23 to helonger sides of which are externally connected metal sections 24 and 25.These sections are identical to the corresponding overturned sections 7and 8 respectively as previously described for the base element orbottom 2 with the exception of the lower part 26 of the section 24,which define a pair of coupled channel guides 27 and 28 which extendover the entire length of said section 24. Said guides 27 and 28,designed to receive the sliding display window panels 12a of glass orthe like of the display window according to the invention, are exactlyaligned vertically with the projections 12 and 13 of the correspondingsection 7 of the base element or bottom 2. External to the smaller sidesof the tubular frame 23 are connected box sections, entirely similar tothe box sections 21 described for the base element or bottom 2 butoverturned upside-down (see FIG. 2a).

The front uprights 4 consist of metal box sections (FIG. 4) ofrectangular cross-section, which on one side define a pair of coupledguide channels 29 and 30, extending over the entire height of theupright. These guides are designed to receive the glass side panels 29aof the display window according to the invention. Said section ofrectangular crosssection is provided on its other sides with projections31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 respectively, which with correspondingadjacent sides define sheaths for receiving strips 32a, 33a of plasticlaminate or wood or the like. These upright sections 4 are connected tothe corners of the base element or bottom 2 and the cover element 3, byclamping, for example by screws, to small threaded bosses 22a, providedon the inside of the box sections 21 of said base and cover elements.These uprights are positioned so that their guide channels 29 andcoincide with the guide channels 27 and 28 of the cover element 24 andwith the guide projections 12 and 13 of the base element or bottom. Inone of said guides 29 or 30 of the uprights 4 are removably engaged pegsindicated diagrammatically by the reference numeral 37, arranged forsupporting any shelves provided inside the display window according tothe invention. The rear uprights 5, which are connected to the baseelement or bottom 2 and to the upper element 3 is an analogous manner tothe previously described uprights 4, consist of metal box sections (FIG.5) which on the side facing the uprights 4 define channel guides 38 and39 over their entire height, of which one is used for receiving adisplay window panel 38a of glass or the like, and the other receives inremovable engagement pegs 39a, which in cooperation with the pegs 37,are provided for supporting internal shelves in the display windowaccording to the invention. These rear uprights also define on theirremaining sides seats essentially in the form of a sheath in which canbe easily arranged strips 5a of plastic laminate, wood or the like. Theuprights 4 and 5, on the sides facing the longer sides associated withthe sliding parts, are advantageously provided with strips ofselfadhesive rubber, provided for dampening the impact against saiduprights of said sliding glass panels.

When the display window according to the invention has to be of largeheight, because of which it is advantageous to use a number of slidingpanels one above the other, intermediate horizontal sections 41 (FIG. 6)may be advantageously used, provided upperly with projections 42 and 43analogouso to the projections 12 and 13 previously described relative tothe sections of the base or bottom element 2, and defining lowerlyguides 44 and 45 analogous to the guides 27 and 28 described withreference to the sections of the cover element 3. These sections 41define on their remaining faces sheath-like seats 46 and 47 forreceiving strips of plastic laminate, wood and the like. These sections411, which are positioned parallel to the longer sides of the baseelement or bottom 2 and the cover element 3, are directly supported bythe uprights 4 and 5 by the use of clamping means of known type, forexample of the type previously described.

When the display window according to the invention is of the typeaccessible from both sides, the upper sections 8 and 25, previouslydescribed, are replaced by sections analogous to the front sections 7and 24 respectively.

From what previously described and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, it is evident that the display window according to theinvention conists of a supporting structure which attains all the setobjects, with particular reference to the small number of componentelements, the rapidity and ease of setting up, the flexibility ofapplication ofa display window so constituted and the economicaladvantages of its construction, especially in consideration of the factthat the described sections are preferably constructed of aluminium byextrusion.

In practice the materials used and the dimensions may be chosen at willaccording to requirements without leaving the scope of the presentinvention as heretofore described and hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A display window with a longitudinal and a transverse dimension forarticles in general, comprising a supporting structure consistingessentially of a parallelepiped framework, having a plurality ofuprights, a base element and an upper cover element, joined together andstiffened by said plurality of uprights, and wherein said base elementand said cover element comprise each a tubular frame having arectangular configuration with a longer and a shorter side and withdimensions'corresponding to said transverse and said longitudinaldimensions of the display window, an arcuate section partiallysurrounding externally each longer side of said tubular frame, saidarcuate section including a curved part shaped as a quarter ofcircumference, said curved part having a first end portion extending ina substantially vertical direction and inwardly offset with respect tosaid longer side, and a second end portion extending in a substantiallyhorizontal direction close to said longer side of the tubular frame,said second end portion having a channel-like extension defining arecess therebetween for receiving therein said longer side of thetubular frame, said channel-like extension having an inwardly facingvertical wall with a fin projecting therefrom for supporting a platemember of the display window, said channel-like extension also defininghorizontal guides and counter-guides for sliding engagement with windowpanels, said base element and said cover element each comprising furtherlateral box sections connected to and coextensive with said shortersides of the tubular frame, said lateral box-sections having each asubstantially horizontal wall defining horizontally extending seatsoffset thereto for receiving display window panels, said uprightsconsisting of vertically extending sections having vertical side wallsdefining a pair of inwardly facing vertically extending coupled guides,one of said coupled guides cooperating with said horizontally extendingseats for receiving and holding a display window panel, and the other ofsaid vertically extending coupled guides having means for receivingremovable shelf supporting pegs, said channel like extension and saidvertically extending sections having outside walls with externalprojections defining seats for removably receiving therein cover platelike elements.

2. A display window as claimed in claim 1, further comprisingintermediate horizontal sections having means defining on two oppositefaces thereof guides and counterguides for sliding engagement withdisplay window panels, and having on at least one other face thereofmeans defining seats for removably receiving therein covering plate likeelements, said intermediate horizontal sections being positionedparallel to the longer sides of said tubular frame.

1. A display window with a longitudinal and a transverse dimension forarticles in general, comprising a supporting structure consistingessentially of a parallelepiped framework, having a plurality ofuprights, a base element and an upper cover element, joined together andstiffened by said plurality of uprights, and wherein said base elementand said cover element comprise each a tubular frame having arectangular configuration with a longer and a shorter side and withdimensions corresponding to said transverse and said longitudinaldimensions of the display window, an arcuate section partiallysurrounding externally each longer side of said tubular frame, saidarcuate section including a curved part shaped as a quarter ofcircumference, said curved part having a first end portion extending ina substantially vertical direction and inwardly offset with respect tosaid longer side, and a second end portion extending in a substantiallyhorizontal direction close to said longer side of the tubular frame,said second end portion having a channel-like extension defining arecess therebetween for receiving therein said longer side of thetubular frame, said channel-like extension having an inwardly facingvertical wall with a fin projecting therefRom for supporting a platemember of the display window, said channel-like extension also defininghorizontal guides and counter-guides for sliding engagement with windowpanels, said base element and said cover element each comprising furtherlateral box sections connected to and coextensive with said shortersides of the tubular frame, said lateral box-sections having each asubstantially horizontal wall defining horizontally extending seatsoffset thereto for receiving display window panels, said uprightsconsisting of vertically extending sections having vertical side wallsdefining a pair of inwardly facing vertically extending coupled guides,one of said coupled guides cooperating with said horizontally extendingseats for receiving and holding a display window panel, and the other ofsaid vertically extending coupled guides having means for receivingremovable shelf supporting pegs, said channel like extension and saidvertically extending sections having outside walls with externalprojections defining seats for removably receiving therein cover platelike elements.
 2. A display window as claimed in claim 1, furthercomprising intermediate horizontal sections having means defining on twoopposite faces thereof guides and counterguides for sliding engagementwith display window panels, and having on at least one other facethereof means defining seats for removably receiving therein coveringplate like elements, said intermediate horizontal sections beingpositioned parallel to the longer sides of said tubular frame.